Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meipeporia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided that commonly commences blooming medium in the season and forms abundantly and substantially continuously attractive dark red double blossoms with a particularly impressive blooming propensity in the autumn. The growth habit is bushy and strong vegetation is formed. The vegetation is very dense dark green and bears a matte finish on the upper surface. The disease tolerance is very good particularly with respect to  Botrytis . The plant is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meipeporia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Meinoiral’ variety (non-patented in theUnited States) and ‘Kortikel’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Radrazz’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836). The ‘Kortikel’ variety is marketedunder the GOLDEN HOLSTEIN trademark and the ‘Radrazz’ variety ismarketed under the KNOCK OUT trademark.

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:(‘Meinoiral’×‘Kortikel’)×‘Radrazz’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) displays a bushy growth habit with strong vegetation,    -   (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis        attractive dark red double blossoms commonly with a particularly        impressive blooming propensity in the autumn,    -   (c) exhibits very dense dark green foliage with a matte finish        on the upper surface,    -   (d) exhibits very good tolerance to disease, particularly with        respect to Botrytis, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in        parks and gardens.

The blooming tends to commence medium in the season, during observationsto date.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage where attractive ornamentation is to beprovided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the ‘Meinoiral’ variety forms dissimilar blossoms having amedium pink coloration. The ‘Kortikel’ variety forms dissimilar blossomshaving a yellow coloration. The ‘Radrazz’ variety forms dissimilar redblossoms having a substantially lesser number of petals (e.g.,approximately 10 petals).

The new variety also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Meigekanu’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,384, granted Nov. 8, 1988) and the‘Radral’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,803, granted Mar. 10, 2009)upon an inspection of the blossoms. More specifically, the ‘Meigekanu’variety forms dissimilar semi-double bright red blossoms and the‘Radral’ forms orange blossoms that finish to a coral-salmon coloration.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meipeporia’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately 1½ years of age and were observedduring July while growing outdoors on their own roots at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France. Standard comparative color information is includedat the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the initial opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud wherein the sepals aremore fully open;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of furtheropening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995). The description isbased on the observation of 1½-year-old plants during May while growingoutdoors on their own roots at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Bushy.        -   Height.—Approximately 50 cm on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 50 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146C and 146D.            Adult wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Thorns.—On young stems: Configuration: with an oval base.            Quantity: approximately 1 on average on a stem length of            10 cm. Length: approximately 4 mm on average. Color: near            Yellow-Green Group 148D. On adult stems: Configuration:            upright on the upper surface and slightly concave on the            under surface with an oval base. Quantity: approximately 1            on average over a stem length of 10 cm. Length:            approximately 7 mm on average. Color: near Greyed-Orange            Group 174A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, rather broad, approximately 2            cm in length on average, approximately 1.1 cm in width on            average, near Green Group 138B on the upper surface, and            near Green Group 138A on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Green Group 138B in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 145A in            coloration. Texture: non-glandular on the upper surface, and            without small prickles on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Green Group 137C in coloration.            Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 138A in coloration.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 13.5 cm for a seven-leaflet            leaf.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 9.5 cm for a seven-leaflet            leaf.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 and 7 (most often). Shape: generally            oval with an acuminate tip and a rounded base. Size: the            terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 7.5 cm in            length on average and approximately 5.1 cm in width on            average. Serration: slightly denticulate, small and single.            Texture: physically firm and leathery. Color (young            foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 137A. Under            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 148A. Color (adult            foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 137A. Under            surface: near Green Group 138A. Venation: alternate pinnate,            and near Greyed-Yellow Group 160B in coloration.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 5 blossoms            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Glandular, approximately 3 to 4 cm in length on            average, approximately 2 mm in diameter on average, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            147C in coloration. Under surface: smooth and near            Yellow-Green Group 146B in coloration. Shape: longish and            narrow with a substantially rounded base. Size:            approximately 2.7 cm in length on average, and approximately            5 mm in width at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: substantially conical. Size: medium. Length:            approximately 1.5 cm on average. Width: approximately 1.4 cm            at the widest point on average. Color as calyx breaks: Upper            surface: near Red Group 47A and 47B. Under surface: near Red            Group 54A and 54B amply suffused with near Red Group 50A.        -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 8 cm on            average. Depth: approximately 4 cm on average. Color (in the            course of opening): Upper surface: near Red Group 47A and            47B. Under surface: near Red Group 54A and 54B amply            suffused with near Red Group 50A. Color (open flower): Upper            surface: near Red-Purple Group 57B and 57C amply suffused            with Red Group 50A. Under surface: near Red-Purple Group 57D            amply suffused with near Red Group 50B and Red-Purple Group            57B. Fragrance: none detected. Petal number: approximately            25 on average under normal growing conditions. Petal shape:            with a substantially rounded tip and an obtuse base. Petal            texture: leathery and somewhat firm. Petal length:            approximately 3.8 cm on average. Petal width: approximately            3.5 cm on average. Petal arrangement: imbricated, and            without petaloids. Petal drop: good with the petals commonly            detaching cleanly before drying. Stamen number:            approximately 69 on average. Anthers: regularly arranged            around the styles, approximately 2 mm in size on average,            and near Yellow-Orange Group 21B in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 3 mm in length on average, and near            Yellow-White Group 158B in coloration. Pollen: not available            for observation. Pistils: approximately 71 on average.            Stigmas: approximately 1 mm in size on average, and near            Yellow Group 2C in coloration. Styles: approximately 4 mm in            length on average, and near Yellow Group 150D in coloration.            Receptacle: smooth, pitcher-shaped in longitudinal section,            approximately 1.1 cm in length on average, approximately 8            mm in width on average at the widest point, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146B in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Medium season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to disease.—Very good, particularly with respect            to Botrytis.

The new ‘Meipeporia’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) displays a bushy growth habit withstrong vegetation, (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuousbasis attractive dark red double blossoms commonly with a particularlyimpressive blooming propensity in the autumn, (c) exhibits very densedark green foliage with a matte finish on the upper surface, (d)exhibits very good tolerance to disease, particularly with respect toBotrytis, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentationin parks and gardens; substantially as shown and described.